What should i feed me horse?

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myponywilliam

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I have a 14.2hh cob
he is 12 years old
He is in light to medium work load
and he lives out all the time in all whether
he has good turnout and if the turn out isnt very good there will be enough hay

at the moment he is on:
1 stubbs scoop of light chaff
2 cups of baileys local balancer
2 garlic scoops
he is only fed every other day

thanks I hope someone can give there opinion or sugest changing his diet in anyway
Thanks Meg :)
 
Hi, I would ditch the garlic, if you really want to feed it, just once a week and v small amount....the rest is fine but try and feed him every day if you can, one scoop of balancer would do the job too, make sure he has plenty of hay/haylage for his fibre :) If hes a good doer, you could try a molasses free chop with his balancer..
 
The first change I would make is to make his feeding consistent. I can't see any reason for the chaff or garlic and wouldn't personally bother with the balancer, so I just wouldn't give him a bucket feed, unless it is the only way to catch him. If you do need to give him a bucket - the first rule of horse-feeding is consistency!
 
Does he have sufficient energy for the work you want him to do and how does he condition score?
Why is he being fed every other day?
Lo cal chaff & balancer sounds appropriate for a cob in light work but without extra relevant information I'm not sure how anyone can advise really.
 
Echo what others have said how can a balancer work if fed every other day? Why do you want to change his feed? Is his weight and energy appropriate atm.

If he was a typical good doer cob I would only feed FF or a mollasse free chaff with his balancer.
 
He is fed every other day cos we live half an hour away from yard and i cant drive (he is fed when he is ridden because he doesnt need anything else)
He is on light work load at moment but when we move yards he will be working more
he is now the correct weight for his size
And just wanted to no if everyone thought he is on the right stuff

the garlic:
Helps to increase a horse's appetite.
Boosts the antibiotic effect of drugs
Acts as a fly repellant - keeping midges, gnats, flies and mosquitoes away.
Helps to eliminate worms and internal parasites - roundworms, hookworms, pinworms and tapeworms
Reduces blood pressure
Purifies the blood.
It is a natural source of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), commonly used to treat joint problems and allergies.
hope that all makes sense
 
Frankly no it doesn't make any sense to me that someone would keep a horse when they couldn't look after it properly on at least a once per day basis.
 
myponywilliam said:
the garlic:
Helps to increase a horse's appetite.
Boosts the antibiotic effect of drugs
Acts as a fly repellant - keeping midges, gnats, flies and mosquitoes away.
Helps to eliminate worms and internal parasites - roundworms, hookworms, pinworms and tapeworms
Reduces blood pressure
Purifies the blood.
It is a natural source of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), commonly used to treat joint problems and allergies.
hope that all makes sense
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Afraid most of this is absolute tosh. Feeding garlic can be harmful - it's been shown to cause Heinz Body Anaemia in horses (albeit when fed in larger doses than you're currently feeding).
 
myponywilliam said:
He is fed every other day cos we live half an hour away from yard and i cant drive (he is fed when he is ridden because he doesnt need anything else)
He is on light work load at moment but when we move yards he will be working more
he is now the correct weight for his size
And just wanted to no if everyone thought he is on the right stuff

the garlic:
Helps to increase a horse's appetite.
Boosts the antibiotic effect of drugs
Acts as a fly repellant - keeping midges, gnats, flies and mosquitoes away.
Helps to eliminate worms and internal parasites - roundworms, hookworms, pinworms and tapeworms
Reduces blood pressure
Purifies the blood.
It is a natural source of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), commonly used to treat joint problems and allergies.
hope that all makes sense
Click to expand...

Sorry he fed every other day because you cant get up there is not an excuse. Who checks on him on the days you can not? IMHO you are doing more harm then good feeding every other day like this. Also what you put about the garlic is tosh. Never herd of garlic been used other then help keep flies away and as an anti-inflammatory. Too much garlic can cause anaemia
 
Pamfyson said:
Frankly no it doesn't make any sense to me that someone would keep a horse when they couldn't look after it properly on at least a once per day basis.
Click to expand...
for your information he is checked daily just not by me my yard owner has an arangement with us
we are moving yards so i can walk there every day
there is no way he will be fed everyday if he isnt riden or atleast brought in from the field
 
Pamfyson said:
Frankly no it doesn't make any sense to me that someone would keep a horse when they couldn't look after it properly on at least a once per day basis.
Click to expand...
A bit harsh Pam, sounds like a kid with good intentions, one assumes someone else checks pony when she is not there.
Ponies are often fed only when they "work" I am assuming it is in good condition and well looked after.
Also I think op has been googling
............."garlic:
Helps to increase a horse's appetite.
Boosts the antibiotic effect of drugs
Acts as a fly repellant - keeping midges, gnats, flies and mosquitoes away.
Helps to eliminate worms and internal parasites - roundworms, hookworms, pinworms and tapeworms
Reduces blood pressure
Purifies the blood.
It is a natural source of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), commonly used to treat joint problems and allergies.
 
if he was fed when he wasnt brought in for exercise he would become seriously massive considering we have to watch his weight
his field is more than big enough for 4 horses
 
I am not sure that you need advice from us p, you should make sure he has enough vitamins and minerals in his diet and that he is has hay and water when stabled.
All feed companies offer free advice.
 
myponywilliam said:
if he was fed when he wasnt brought in for exercise he would become seriously massive considering we have to watch his weight
his field is more than big enough for 4 horses
Click to expand...

Why feed him a hard feed if you worried about his weight? Also if he checked everyday why cant the YO give him a feed
 
If his weight and condition are fine and all you're talking about is a token feed after work, I'd just keep a bag of something like a molasses free chop or some high fibre nuts, and give him a handful in a bucket. Balancer is an expensive thank you! I wouldn't bother with the garlic either but in small quantities I wouldn't worry about it doing harm.

FWIW I don't see anything wrong with a token thank you feed of a handful of something or other after working.
 
I make no apologies for my post. Still makes no sense to me. If you don't drive get on your push bike. I did as a kid. It's a fact that if you want to keep a horse it requires hard work, effort and sacrifice. (unless of course you are exceptionally lucky and few of us have that good fortune) If you're not up for that, don't have them. Quite simple.
 
Wow, some people being a little harsh here. If the pony is checked daily, does it matter that its not by the owner?. Pamfyson, do your sentiments apply to all those who keep their horses on part or full livery also???
OP, you feed pretty much what I give to my 14.2 Welsh D good doer (less the garlic and mine does get a feed daily)
If horse looks good and is maintaining a good wieght then keep I would stick with what you're doing. However you may want to consider if the pony really needs a balancer - its an expensive feed and if you have a good grass supply then should not always be necessary. If you are just giving a token bucket feed, a handful of nuts and some low calorie chaff would do just as well, and be far cheaper!
 
What pray, is harsh in acknowledging the realities of keeping horses? If the horse is checked everyday then why cannot the yo feed it during the check. The point was made that it would get fat if fed daily. So feed it half the amount. It really isn't rocket science. Hard work, common sense and commitment are the requirements. Not harsh, just the facts of the matter.
 
Pamfyson said:
I make no apologies for my post. Still makes no sense to me. If you don't drive get on your push bike. I did as a kid. It's a fact that if you want to keep a horse it requires hard work, effort and sacrifice. (unless of course you are exceptionally lucky and few of us have that good fortune) If you're not up for that, don't have them. Quite simple.
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That's really over the top. Plenty of people pay to keep their horses on yards and under the care of someone else when they can't make it up. Plenty of people can't get up everyday due to kids, sick parents, work, illness - once a horse has someone to look after it in the meantime its fine. Maybe the op can't cycle, maybe the roads are too dark and dangerous on winter nights. You don't know the circumstances and you seem to be judging her harshly for a situation a lot of people are in.

The feed sounds fine, a balancer every day would be useful to ensure pony gets its vitamins and mineral. I'd also knock the garlic on the head, its very overhyped and something horses wouldn't naturally eat in the wild according to a nutritionist friend of mine.
 
PStarfish it was never stated in first post the horse was checked daily. how I read it was own saw horse every other day and only fed it every other day. At no point in first post was a mention of yard own checking it daily too. Also my point was why couldn't horse be fed daily.
 
Exactly my point LaMooch. There is absolutely nothing wrong with good livery services to pick up the slack. Many folk have no option but to use livery yards. The OP's post did not make their situation clear. I am still unsure why the livery yard check can't include a feed, if indeed the horse needs feeding (as in concentrate feed) at all.
 
i know on our yard grass livery cost doesn't include feeding the horse - that is up to owner., might be similar on the ops yard?

I don't see an issue in the horse being fed after work instead of daily. especially if its in good condition, turned out on grass and has forage. I have done that with my two all year and its never been an issue.
 
myponywilliam said:
for your information he is checked daily just not by me my yard owner has an arangement with us
we are moving yards so i can walk there every day
there is no way he will be fed everyday if he isnt riden or atleast brought in from the field
Click to expand...

Right, well, if he is fed every other day on a ration of 1 scoop of chaff, and 2 cups of balancer and garlic. I completely agree, cut out the garlic, any equine nutritionalist would tell you that this could do far more harm and yes as another's poster says can cause Heinz blood anaemia. Garlic is good for a short term use of boosting the immune system if your pony has been under the weather. Other than that I wouldn't put it near my horse.

Right, now back to feed, frankly, from what you describe, he doesn't need it, but I understand that sometimes it feels nicer to feed them than not, but feeding every other day is probably not doing him any good and isn't actually helping the important things like his digestive system. So you really do need to ensure he has a daily feed if you want to feed him. I would do this 1/2 scoop of chaff, half cup of balancer, on the days you are up there you feed him, on the days you aren't, your yard owner can feed him, until he is in a new yard where you can do it daily. If you can't do this, then don't feed him at all is my advice.
 
Queenbee said:
Right, well, if he is fed every other day on a ration of 1 scoop of chaff, and 2 cups of balancer and garlic. I completely agree, cut out the garlic, any equine nutritionalist would tell you that this could do far more harm and yes as another's poster says can cause Heinz blood anaemia. Garlic is good for a short term use of boosting the immune system if your pony has been under the weather. Other than that I wouldn't put it near my horse.

Right, now back to feed, frankly, from what you describe, he doesn't need it, but I understand that sometimes it feels nicer to feed them than not, but feeding every other day is probably not doing him any good and isn't actually helping the important things like his digestive system. So you really do need to ensure he has a daily feed if you want to feed him. I would do this 1/2 scoop of chaff, half cup of balancer, on the days you are up there you feed him, on the days you aren't, your yard owner can feed him, until he is in a new yard where you can do it daily. If you can't do this, then don't feed him at all is my advice.
Click to expand...

Very well put Queenbee
 
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